Amid allegations of rape
levelled against its Senior Pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, the Commonwealth of Zion
Assembly has declared seven days of fasting starting from Monday.
This comes as protesters
have vowed to continue to demand for justice following allegations by Busola
Dakolo, wife of popular Musician, Timi Dakolo, that Fatoyinbo raped her 20
years ago.
Addressing congregants on
Sunday, Fatoyinbo said the yearly special programme titled, ‘Seven Days of
Glory’, which usually takes place from July 1 to July 7, had been suspended.
The programme has in the
past attracted international preachers like Creflo Dollar and Bishop T.D Jakes.
However, Fatoyinbo, who
claimed to be speaking under the instruction of God, said the programme had to
be cancelled because he did not want the invited preachers to go through the
embarrassment of being heckled by protesters.
Fatoyinbo added, “We will
have prayers for those who are interested in coming but we are not going to
have the seven days of glory. It has been suspended because I don’t want all
those kind of stuff.
“So, if you want to pray,
come but the regular seven days of prayer, having preachers, come in, you don’t
want to put your guest speakers through that. We love to host people properly.”
His speech was greeted with
chants of ‘We love you pastor’ from worshippers.
In a prayer that ensued, he
added, “As we start our fasting, even though we are not doing the seven days of
glory (programme) as we usually do, those of you who are led to come and pray
here, as you come, the Lord will lift you up.”
Shortly after Fatoyibo’s
speech, his wife, Modele, attested to the integrity of her husband, insisting
that he was not a rapist.
Mrs. Fatoyinbo said, “Not
even as an unbeliever would my husband rape someone. Hello, let me talk,
please, not even as an unbeliever.”
However, her husband
quickly grabbed the microphone from her, saying, “The elders are stepping into
it, please let them handle it.”
Earlier, the church, which
usually begins its sermon at 10am, held a session of testimonies by female
members, apparently with the aim of rubbishing allegations that Fatoyinbo was a
rapist.
About seven women came out
one after the other to share their ‘COZA Experience’.
The women all claimed their
lives had hit rock bottom but God used Fatoyinbo to save them from destruction.
While Fatoyinbo was being
eulogised inside the church auditorium, he was being heckled by protesters
outside.
The protesters, mainly
women, demanded justice and asked for the pastor to step down.
The #ChurchToo Movement, a
group of at least 126 civil society organisations and individuals, which organised
the protest, marched to the church premises around 9.30am clad in white
t-shirts and holding placards that read ‘We are watching you,’ ‘Your pastor is
not your God,’ ‘Thou shall not rape’ and ‘No to sexual abuse in my church,’
among others.
At the scene of the
protest, COZA protocol officers formed a barricade against the protesters as
officers of the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and the
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps accosted protesters and journalists
who tried to intercept the barricade.
A convener of #ChurchToo,
Bukky Shonibare, said, “We demand that the board and leadership of COZA
commence investigation into the allegation of rape levelled by Busola Dakolo
and any other member of the church against its lead pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo.
“While the investigation is
being carried out, Pastor Fatoyinbo must be asked to step down from any
leadership role in the church to avoid partiality.
“The Christian Association
of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and other relevant Christian bodies
must show leadership by condemning these crimes coming from the church, while
ensuring relevant actions are taken. The continuous harassment and intimidation
of Busola and Timi Dakolo, and other victims must stop forthwith.”
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